Gus Dur to revise justice system
Gus Dur to revise justice system
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Thursday he would revamp Jakarta's justice system, including replacing corrupt judges with honest ones in the capital's five district courts, as part of efforts to create legal certainty for investors.
"The five courts in Jakarta will be filled with so-called honest judges. This will make Jakarta an example for the whole nation and also a place where all the business cases will come to," the President, popularly called Gus Dur, told a visiting business delegation from the Netherlands at the state palace.
Gus Dur also said he would place honest people in key positions of his administration dealing with legal matters as part of the effort to combat corruption, and create a conducive environment for foreign investors.
Gus Dur made the remarks amid growing concerns voiced by foreign investors over the lack of transparency in the country's justice system when mediating business disputes.
Jacques Shraven, chairman of the Confederation of Dutch Industry and Trade and leader of the Dutch delegation, underlined the importance of transparency to the Indonesian government to lure back foreign investors to the country.
Shraven also called on the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) to not only work professionally but also "quickly and decisively" in carrying out its asset sale program.
The business delegation, comprising 65 businesspeople representing 45 top Dutch companies, was accompanied by Dutch vice prime minister and economic affairs minister Annemarie Jorritsma.
As part of the agenda, Dutch company Interbeton signed a US$20 million contract on Thursday with the Batam Development Authority (BIDA) to develop a low-cost housing project.
Dutch software company Magnus Indonesia also signed contracts with state-owned airlines Garuda Indonesia on the implementation of an information management system, and with Pelita Air Services, owned by state oil and gas company Pertamina, on the implementation of a financial system.
Indonesia's Eijkman Institute also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands' Eijkman-Winkler Institute to cooperate in market-oriented research and to sponsor one postdoctoral fellowship. (jsk/prb)